Electronic distance measurement equipment

ABSTRACT

An assembly is provided combining a low power light source, a distance measuring radio, an electrical storage and an adapter compatible with an existing socket for a light unit. The unique configuration of the assembly enables deployment of distance measuring radios in buildings, vehicles and outdoor venues without the need to install dedicated infrastructure such as electrical grid connections. A method is further disclosed of automatically determining the location of a newly installed assembly by first learning the locations of already installed neighboring assemblies, measuring the distances to such known assemblies, and using the measured distances to determine the location of the newly installed assembly.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a § 371 application of PCT/IB2019/050750 filed Jan.30, 2019, which claims priority from French Patent Application No. 1870284 filed Mar. 14, 2018 and which claims benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/627,303 filed Feb. 7, 2018, each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic distance measurementequipment and the installation thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the advent of low-cost With the advent of low-cost, low power radiodistance measurement technologies such as UWB (Ultra Wide Band), RFID(Radio Frequency Identification) and others, there has been growingdemand for deploying geolocation systems to keep track of people andassets. The technology works by measuring distances between a movablenode, commonly referred to as tag, and a plurality of stationary nodeswho's positions are known, commonly referred to as anchors. Once a setof distances to multiple anchors is measured, geometric calculations areperformed to determine the location of the moving tag. A number of suchsystems are known, for example those using the DW1000 integrated circuitfrom Decawave.

Even though the state of UWB and other technologies allows theconstruction of inexpensive radio distance measurement equipment, itslimited range requires the installation of multiple fixed-locationanchors in a given geographic location in order to provide adequate tagmovement tracking. Typical achievable measurement distances range fromas much as 200 meters to only 10 meters or less.

The current state of the art in radio technology allows low poweroperation, so an anchor can operate for an extended period of time froma battery. However since manual replacement or recharging of hundreds orthousands of stationary Anchor nodes is not practical, at least anintermittent source of electrical power is needed. Solar cells are anoption in some cases but they are expensive and create additionalrequirements and restrictions on Anchor location and installation.

Adding a wired connection to the local electrical grid, either directlyor by means of converters and adapters, is the most practical way ofproviding power to anchors. Unfortunately this creates a verysubstantial installation cost in terms of labor, facility downtime andmaintenance, creating obstacles to wide deployment.

A similar challenge exists for mounting anchor nodes invehicles—physical wiring must be routed to connect to the vehicleelectrical system, often involving removal and/or modification ofinterior panels.

Further, to be effective the distance measuring radios have to be placedin locations that both provide reasonable protection from the elementsand an unobstructed path for the propagation of radio signals.

Once installed, the exact location of the anchor node has to beprogrammed into the node in order for it to serve as a useful locationreference for moving tags. If the location is predetermined, it may beprogrammed prior to installation but this creates significant logisticsburden and introduces potential for errors. If a technician is requiredto program the location of an anchor on installation, this raises theinstallation labor cost and introduces the need for specializedequipment.

What is needed is a way of rapidly installing a distance measuring radioanchors in ubiquitously existing locations that provide at leastintermittent existing electrical power, protection from the elements,and clear path for propagating radio signals. A method is also desiredfor automatically determining the location of a newly installed anchorwithout the need for manual or prior configuration. The presentinvention teaches an assembly and a method as a means of meeting thisneed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The terms “invention”, “the invention”, “this invention” and “thepresent invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly toall of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below.Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit thesubject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of thepatent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patentare defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is ahigh-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introducessome of the concepts that are further described in the detaileddescription section below. This summary is not intended to identify keyor essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intendedto be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subjectmatter. The subject matter should be understood by reference toappropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any orall drawings and each claim.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a means ofdeploying anchors in buildings, vehicles and outdoor venues without theneed to install dedicated infrastructure such as electrical gridconnections. A secondary objective is to provide a method ofautomatically determining anchor location and configuring anchors uponinstallation.

To meet the primary objective, according to the present invention, anassembly is disclosed comprising an anchor radio, an electrical energystorage means, an LED light source, and a means of installing theassembly into an existing conventional light source socket.

Conventional light sources such as light bulbs are ubiquitous and arecommonly found in buildings, vehicles and outdoor venues and are usuallyplaced at regular intervals within a few meters or tens of meters ofeach other. Standardized light source receptacle sockets are well known.Each existing light source location already has at least an intermittentsource of electrical power installed. Therefore these locations provideideal placement for anchors.

On a vehicle, light sources such as turn signals, marker and indicatorlights are located at the outside corners of the vehicle, behindtransparent or semi-transparent covers that provide protection from theelements while allowing unobstructed propagation of radio signals.

In a building, light sources are placed at regular intervals and haveprotective covers. Similar is true for many outdoor venues.

However, it is not practical to simply remove light sources and replacethem with anchors since their primary purpose is still to provide light.A large number of currently installed light sources still useincandescent technology which generates significant heat that wouldadversely affect the service life of an anchor were it to be placed inclose proximity. LED technology has made great advances in recent yearsand many of older light sources are now being replaced with LEDequivalents. LED light sources with adapters to install them in existingstandard light source sockets are well known.

A LED light source is practical to co-locate with an anchor radiobecause it generates very little heat, is compact, and consumesrelatively little energy. Combined with the compact size of existingdistance measurement radios, this makes it practical to create theassembly of the present invention. Other type of low power light sourcecould be used.

To achieve its primary objective, the assembly of the present inventioncomprises a distance measuring Anchor radio, an LED light source, ameans of storing electrical energy, and an adapter to facilitateinstallation of the assembly into a standard light source socket.Electrical energy is stored whenever electrical power is supplied to thelight source socket, and is used for operation of the anchor radio whensocket power is not available.

To achieve the secondary objective, the present invention discloses amethod of automatically determining the location of a newly installedassembly by first configuring it as a tag, learning the locations ofalready installed neighboring anchors, as well as tags with knownlocations, measuring the distances to such known anchors and tags, andusing the distances to determine the location of the newly installedanchor. Once the location has been determined, the assembly isreconfigured as an anchor.

More specifically, the invention relates to an assembly comprising:

-   -   a low power light source,    -   a distance measuring radio,    -   an electrical energy storage means; and    -   an adapter compatible with a standard light source socket.

According to a particular embodiment, the low power light source is aLED light source.

According to a particular embodiment, said assembly being of a shape andsize compatible with a standard light source.

According to a particular embodiment, said standard light source is alight unit for a vehicle.

According to a particular embodiment, said assembly being configured sothat electrical energy is received from the socket during the times whenlight source is illuminated and is stored in the electrical energystorage means, the stored energy being used to power the distancemeasuring radio during periods when no electrical power is provided tothe socket.

According to a particular embodiment, electrical energy storage means(200) may be a battery, a capacitor or similar means.

The invention is also directed to a method of configuring an assembly aspreviously defined comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) checking whether location of the assembly has already been        determined,    -   b) if yes, proceeding to step g),    -   c) if no, configuring assembly as a tag and scanning for        neighbors with known locations,    -   d) when at least 3 neighbors with known locations are detected,        proceeding to e) otherwise proceeding to step c),    -   e) measuring distances to at least 3 neighbors with known        locations,    -   f) calculating assembly location, and    -   g) configuring assembly as an anchor.

The invention is also directed to a method of providing a visualindication from an assembly as previously defined, said methodconsisting of alternatively illuminating and dimming said light sourcein a timed pattern, said pattern being responsive to a status of saiddistance measuring radio, wherein electrical power for said illuminatingof light source is at least partially supplied from said electricalpower storage means, and wherein said electrical power storage means isat least periodically recharged by means of electrical power suppliedvia said adapter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described herein with reference to thefollowing drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram side view of the assembly of the present invention;and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the method of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A representative embodiment of the present invention is illustratedschematically in FIG. 1 . The assembly of the present inventioncomprises low power light source 100. Preferably, this low power lightsource 100 is a LED light source further comprising individual LEDelements 150. The assembly further comprises an electrical energystorage means 200, an adapter 300 to facilitate installation of theassembly into a pre-existing standard light source socket, and adistance measuring radio 400, further comprising an antenna 450.

The assembly of the present invention is configured to be compatible inoverall size and shape with standard light sources, and to be compatiblewith standard light source sockets by means of adapter 300. The assemblyis installed by removing an existing light source from its socket andinstalling the compatible assembly in said socket.

The resultant installation continues to provide light source function bymeans of the LED light source 100 integrated in the assembly, andfurther provides anchor functionality by means of the distance measuringradio 400. Electrical energy is received from the socket during thetimes when light source is illuminated and is stored in electricalenergy storage means 200, which may be a battery, a capacitor or similarmeans. The stored energy is used to power the distance measuring radio400 during periods when no electrical power is provided to the socket.

In addition to providing light source and distance measuring radiofunction, an assembly of the present invention is able to provide avisual indication by illuminating the light source 100 using energystored in energy storage means 200, at times when no electrical energyis supplied to the socket. At times when energy is supplied to thesocket, an indication may be provided by turning off or dimming thelight source 100. In either circumstance, a typical indication wouldconsist of a timed pattern of illuminating and dimming the light source100. Such pattern would be responsive to a particular status of thedistance measuring radio 400.

Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention is a completelight unit assembly for a vehicle, including the lens and its mountingmeans, such as a turn signal assembly, brake light assembly, daytimerunning light assembly and the like. In this embodiment, the adapter 300is the means of installing said light unit in or on the vehiclebodywork, and the compatible socket is the receiving means for such aunit on the vehicle.

The unique and innovative configuration of the assembly combining a LEDlight source 100, a distance measuring radio 400, an electrical storagemeans 200 and an adapter 300 compatible with an existing socket for alight unit, allows the present invention to achieve its primaryobjective to provide a means of deploying anchors in buildings, vehiclesand outdoor venues without the need to install dedicated infrastructuresuch as electrical grid connections.

An embodiment of the method of the present invention is illustrateddiagrammatically in FIG. 2 . Upon initial power-up, the distancemeasuring radio 400 checks to see if its location has already beendetermined. If yes, the assembly is configured as an anchor in operatingmode and begins regular operation consisting in measuring distances tomoving tags.

If the location has not yet been determined, the assembly enters in aconfiguring mode as a tag and begins to scan for neighboring anchors andtags whose position has already been determined. The distance measuringradio 400 is then configured to measure distance between the assemblyand neighbors with known locations. The scan is continued until at least3 such neighbors are detected. Once at least 3 neighbors with determinedpositions are identified, distances to those neighbors are measured bymeans of the distance measuring radio 400, and a location of theassembly is geometrically computed by trilateration.

Once location is determined, the distance measuring radio 400 isconfigured as an anchor and begins regular operation in a normaloperating mode.

In other words, upon first installation of an assembly of the presentinvention, its position is initially unknown. The assembly entersconfiguration mode and acts as a tag, attempting to measure distances toa plurality of anchors with known positions. Once sufficient number ofdistances to known position is obtained, the position of the newlyconfigured anchor device (the present assembly) is computed and becomesknown.

Since the assembly will remain stationary, its known position can now beused in operating mode to measure distances to moving tags. Moving tagscan therefore use the known position and distance to the newlyconfigured anchor (the present assembly), along with like informationfrom other configured anchors, to determine the position of the movingtags.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not limiting;other embodiments shall be readily apparent to those skilled in the artbased upon the disclosures made herein, without departing from the scopeof the present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An assembly comprising: a light source; anelectrical energy storage; an adapter compatible with a standard lightsource socket; a distance measuring radio configured to scan, in aconfiguring mode as a tag, for neighboring anchors and tags whoseposition has already been determined and then configured to measuredistance between the assembly and neighbors with known positions andonce at least three neighbors with known positions are identified,distances to said at least three neighbors being measured by thedistance measuring radio, such that a location of the assembly isgeometrically computed by trilateration, the assembly being configuredas an anchor; and wherein the distance measuring radio in a normaloperating mode, since the assembly will remain stationary, a knownposition of the assembly is used to measure distances to moving tags,moving tags being able to use the known position and distance to a newlyconfigured anchor consisting of the assembly, along with informationfrom other configured anchors, to determine positions of the movingtags.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is a LEDlight source.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, said assembly being of a shapeand size compatible with a standard light source.
 4. The assembly ofclaim 3 wherein said standard light source is a light unit for avehicle.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said assembly beingconfigured so that electrical energy is received from the standard lightsource socket when the light source is illuminated and is stored in theelectrical energy storage, the stored energy being used to power thedistance measuring radio during periods when no electrical power isprovided to the standard light source socket.
 6. The assembly of claim1, wherein the electrical energy storage is a battery or a capacitor. 7.A method of configuring an assembly comprising a light source; adistance measuring radio; an electrical energy storage; and an adaptercompatible with a standard light source socket and using the assembly todetermine locations of moving tags, said method comprising successivesteps of: a) checking whether a location of the assembly has alreadybeen determined, b) proceeding to step g) when the location of theassembly has been determined, c) configuring assembly as a tag andscanning for neighbors with known locations when the location of theassembly has not been determined, d) proceeding to step e) when at least3 neighbors with known locations are detected, otherwise returning stepc), e) measuring distances to said at least 3 neighbors with the knownlocations, f) calculating the location of the assembly by trilateration,g) configuring the assembly as an anchor, and wherein in a normaloperating mode, since the assembly will remain stationary, a knownlocation of the assembly is used to measure distances to the movingtags, the moving tags being able to use the known location and distanceto a newly configured anchor consisting of the assembly, along withinformation from other configured anchors, to determine the locations ofthe moving tags.
 8. A method of providing a visual indication from anassembly of claim 1, comprising alternatively illuminating and dimmingsaid light source in a timed pattern, said timed pattern beingresponsive to a status of said distance measuring radio, wherein anelectrical power to illuminate said light source is at least partiallysupplied from said electrical power storage, and wherein said electricalpower storage is at least periodically recharged by an electrical powersupplied via said adapter.